Chimney cap link

ABSTRACT

The “Chimney Cap Link”, a device that when used will conserve heat in a dwelling. Installed between the stove pipe and the wall connection, it serves to enable one to, in only seconds, install or remove an insulated double wall cap. To be done regularly, without any leakage when wood stove or similar appliance is in use, and done cleanly with ease. 
     Having a sliding lock seal, the prototype is framed using one half (½) inch steel rod and nuts. Rivets and sealant is used to join the one third (⅓) length parallel walls to the two primary pipes. Welding may be a better option or one piece pipe parts. The sliding seal reveals an open gap in the pipe, in order to insert or remove the insulated cap. 
     Therefore, when used, the cap stops heat from escaping out the hole in the wall and prevents cold air from entering the dwelling. Also during the hot summer months, when air conditioners are in use, the insulated cap performs the opposite function, it caps the heat out and prevents the inner cool air from escaping out the hole. 
     When regularly used the “Chimney Cap Link” performs its duty 24 hours a day, and saves on energy 24 hours per day.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a wood or combustion stove orfurnace installation, and more particularly, to a frame mounted slidablepipe link assembly and its utility in providing quick access to an openflue, and by means by which the flue may be rapidly coupled to a stoveor other combustion device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Combustion heating units, such as furnaces or stoves, whether utilizingwood or other forms of fuel to generate heat, all require a smokeevacuation conduit, a flue pipe leading to a chimney, is common place.

It is such that these are popular devices for heating in residential andcommercial buildings.

When such a unit is not in use, however, the opening within the unit,connected to a flue leading outside forms a passage, through whichheated air or cooled air can escape from the interior of the building.

A frame mounted slidable pipe link assembly, providing instant access toa flue, when it is not in use, said assembly when installed preferablyat the exterior wall hole, at the bottom of the chimney, inside thebuilding, would provide simple access to open a flue line at the wall inorder to install a cap directly over and into the wall hole opening, atthe wall or to clean out the inner chimney bottom or to simply inspectthe inside of the flue at this important location in the flue. In therelies the usefulness and utility of a chimney cap link. Or a framemounted slidable pipe link assembly. The multi-purpose utility of thesaid device is evident.

Few innovations for quick and easy access to a flue have been previouslyput forth in prior art. For example, EP Pat. No 2149751A2 to Thomas,Pierre, Druette and Coirier discloses a “device of preparing for aconduit ensuring connection between a heating appliance (standard stoveor cooker) and a flue of smoke leading to a chimney, it still relates tothe process of setting opens some of such a device of preparing.” Notethe single purpose and utility of this device is to introduce to analready standard flue pipe an additional outer sliding shield cover,encasing the standard flue pipe concentrically sliding one into theother and introducing a collar spacer ring at one extremity of both pipelengths so as to allow for, when one pipe length is slid into the other,pipe lengths are interlocked and slid up and down. This newly attachedsliding shield cover allows for an air chamber space within the twointerlocked pipe lengths and two openings or vents are present andsituated at one extremity of each sliding pipe. One for the top end andone for the bottom end. When installed the sliding pipe lengths serve toadjust the vent hole openings permitting increased or decreasedcirculation of colder air entering the air chamber, between the parallelwalls of the main flue and the additional two cylindrical interlockingsliding cover parts, then air rising up to the top opening vent, ventingout the hot air accumulating in the upper chamber area. Thus creating anair insulated barrier of a double wall nature, with the outer coversurface cool enough to touch and thus creating a safer characteristic ofsaid device permitting by law the flue pipe device to be located closerto interior walls of the building. However, it does not open or provideany access inside the flue itself, which presents again another majordifference. In addition there is no seal as compared to the framemounted slidable pipe link assembly. Another difference is stated, thedevice is made to be installed in a vertical position. Quote fromparagraph [0012] of description of stated EU prior art, “the inventionis adapted to equip a vertical conduit which connect a heating applianceand a flue of smoke whose lower end extends projecting from a fewcentimetres under the ceiling of the part equipped and whose higher endleads of a chimney.” End quote.

Note the framed slidable pipe link assembly is constructed to beinstalled at all angles or slope, either vertical or horizontal or yetagain at a slope of any angle. This fact constitutes a major differencewith its enhanced versatility and wider or broader applications such asa wall connection, as compared to the previously stated EU patentedprior art.The two spacer rings in the EU patented device are similar to the twospacer rings used in the frame mounted slidable pipe link assemblydevice. However there utility, purpose and function are different, insuch that, yes the EU spacers serve as an abutment in between thesliding cylinders in order for them to snugly fit within one another andslide easily and also they serve to create an open air space betweensaid parallel walls. Note this is where their resemblance ends. Thespacer rings within the frame mounted slidable pipe link assemblyactually do more. They are present in order to provide a concentricframe platform around the pipe ends in which allows for the attachmentof the shorter interior seal walls within the sliding seal. Also theyconstitute the parts or location within the seal which stops any leakageemanating from within a flue pipe by being the abutment part innersurface within the seal, where and when the sleeve is pulled and slidtight, the shorter inner walls abut squarely against the spacers tightlyand block any leakage of the conduit or flue. Thus constituting a twoinner point of contact sliding seal, which can be applied to manyconduits of smoke and also liquids, such as water, pulp, steam, oil andmore.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need still exists in the art toaddress the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention relates to a stove or combustionunit flue coupling device, permitting an opening and access inside theflue. In one embodiment, the stove smoke flues new framed slidable pipelink assembly, includes two, 2 pipes of a set length and same diameter,three frame rods of solid heat resistance material, bent to a 90° angle,in from each end. Attached to the two said pipes, by welding or othermeans, parallel to the pipe exterior walls which are lined up, end toend, and linking the two flue pipe lengths, while also leaving a gap orempty open space in between the two pipe ends. The frame rods are to beattached in a triangular fashion. Another pipe for the sliding sleeveseal, of a longer length but larger diameter is also present, serving asthe body of the moving part, the sliding sleeve seal being of greaterdiameter than the two initial pipe lengths, it can be slid left andright over the pipe (2) of the link and covering or revealing the opengap in the stove pipe line. At the output end of the sleeve, a reducingconcentric pipe piece is attached to reduce the diameter of the head ofthe sleeve down in order to fit over and connect to the pipe end, at theoutput end of the link assembly. The open output pipe (4) length that iswithin the link assembly.

In one embodiment the frame mounted slidable pipe link assembly, entailsa seal feature which serves to seal the slit that exist inside, betweenthe sliding sleeve wall of one diameter and

the link pipe wall of standard diameter. This interior slit or crack,that is present, is the open slit of air in between the sliding sleevewall and the pipe (2) wall in which the sleeve (1) slides over when slidone within the other.

By adding and attaching by way of welding or rivets, one new shortersemi-length of flue pipe (9) of a different smaller diameter, beingshorter in the the length of the sliding sleeve, by way of inserting itwithin the sleeve at its intake end, and sliding it in flush, theninserting a metal spacer (22) ring in between the pipe walls at theintake end, then affixing them together to create the bottom double wallsection of the sliding seal sleeve (1). The said spacer (22) isproviding a gap in between the pipe walls, this gap enabling shorterpipe walls to slide into one another and thus constituting one halfportion of the sliding pipe seal.The other half of the seal is present at the output end of the number 2pipe part, in the link. Again another shorter pipe (9), of this time, alarger diameter than the standard diameter number 2 pipe, but againbeing shorter than the length of the sleeve (1). This new shorter lengthpipe (9) is slid down and over the number 2 pipe in the link, downagain. Flush with the pipe end, then another metal spacer (22) isinserted within the now parallel pipe walls, encircling the pipe wallwithin and creating another small gap in between and allowing the othershorter wall to also slide in and out.By sliding the head of the sleeve up over the number 2 pipe, then pulledtogether tightly, the new shorter walls that were added, interlock thenabut squarely with the spacers (22) creating a four wall seal chamberwith two points of contact barriers contained within.The inner slit present in the seal wall, is protected against theleakage of creosote and such by a protective inner cylindrical typeshield (5), which protrudes down within and overlapping and bypassingthe slit.

In one embodiment, the chimney cap link device further includes, aninsulated flue cap, to be left hanging, when not in used, on the unitsframe by way of a hooked metal handle that is incorporated onto the capwhich also embodies an inner concentric metal wall cavity containing twoand one half (2½) inches of insulation, capped with a concentric coverplate. However although, spoken of here the insulated double wall cap isnot and does not form part of this claim.

In one embodiment, the frame mounted slidable pipe link assembly furtherincludes two metal flexible leaf snap in locks (8). Measuring fourinches by one inch in width with one sixteenth of an inch in thickness.Attached to the lower area of the frame (25), they rise up in a slopeleading under the protruding bottom of the sliding sleeve (1) when it islocked in place. Bent outward at the top ends one inch, then upward oneinch, in which providing small handles to grip, and pull out or push andsnap in against the pipe wall.

In one embodiment the pipes, the frame rods, the hooked handle and allmaterial utilized in the construction of the framed slidable pipe linkassembly, all consist of high temperature endurance metals. These andother aspects of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, although variations and modificationtherein may be affected without departing from the scope of the novelconcepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of theinvention and, together with the written description, serve to explainthe principles of the invention. Whenever possible the same referencenumbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or likeelements of an embodiment, and where in:

FIG. 1 Depicts a view of a complete frame mounted slidable pipe linkassembly device, connected to wall, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, with its support structure frame, sliding sleeve sealand cap hanging on the unit frame.

FIG. 2 Shows another view of a frame (25) mounted slidable pipe linkassembly in the open position with the hooked insulated cap, shown inplace hanging in the open gap within the link and at the ready to bepushed into place covering the exterior wall hole.

FIG. 2 is also a partial cross-section according to 4-4 of FIG. 5;Also depicted by the longer intermittent lines located inside thesliding sleeve (1) is the inner concentric over lapping shield,protecting the inner seal wall slit and attached at the top inside wallof the sliding sleeve (1). The flexible leaf locks (8) are also shown.The two inner seal short semi walls (9), serving the seal are shown bythe shorter smaller intermittent lines. Also shown are the two circularinner spacers (22), where they are located and attached. Serving as aseat surface to receive the square abutment end of the inner slidingsleeve wall when tightly locked in place. The spacers (22) also serve asa frame to attach semi walls (9) and to provide a space in between theparallel walls.

FIG. 3 Shows another view of the frame mounted sliding pipe linkassembly, with enhanced depiction of the inner sliding seal and how theinner semi walls (9) interact when in an open or closed position. Alsodepicted is the positioning of the flexible leaf locks (8), when engagedthe link is closed and the seal is locked in place and when the link isopened, the flexible leafs locks (8), rest gently and abut the outersliding sleeve wall. Thus permitting the sliding sleeve to easily slideeither way, left or right, and all the while serving as locks and guidespreventing any lateral play in the sliding sleeve.

FIG. 4 Depicts a close up view of how the inner seal walls (9),interlock when slid one inside another and when pulled tightly together,create a two contact (10), four walled flue seal, or also being usefulfor hydraulic systems.

FIG. 5 Illustrated in FIG. 5 drawing, is a partial sight, crosses fromthere according to 6-6 of FIG. 5. It is a sight of end of the unitsillustrated on FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 Depicts another illustration of the outer semi wall (9), thesuperior spacer (22) and the lower link pipe (2), that when assembledforms a partially doubled walled pipe, now becoming a half portion ofthe sliding sleeve seal, being within the flue wall itself. The slidingsleeve to slide down and over the lower pipe (2).

FIG. 7 Depicts illustrations of the sliding sleeves (1) top header part(23) being a reducing pipe length, reducing from the diameter of theouter sleeve wall down to accept the standard

crimped end of the upper link pipe length (4). Also the interior shield(5) of the device is depicted, showing how it fits into the sleeve andattached at the top (top to top) with the header reduction part (23),brought to be attached over and at the upper sleeve (1) end. Thereforethe shield 5 being attached within the sliding sleeve (1), slides leftand right or up and down with the sliding sleeve (1). Also a sight ofend depiction of the spacer, two wall relationship.

FIG. 8 Depicts a detailed representation of the double walled insulatedcap (3), with the hooked metal handle (12) comprising;

-   -   No. 18 metal cap serving as the body of the cap unit.    -   No. 12 hooked style handle for hanging on walls.    -   No. 13 nuts to fasten unit together.    -   No. 14 concentric cover plate to cover insulation and be a        double end wall.    -   No. 15 fire retardant fiber insulation.    -   No. 16 concentric, inner wall part forming the side inner wall.    -   No. 17 rivets used to attach shields, reduction sleeve end part        (23)    -   No. 21 3/16 metal bolt running through the center of the cap at        its axis.

FIG. 9 Simply shows the side view of a double wall insulated cap,hanging on a wall and another frontal depiction of it in place, coveringand insulating a wall or ceiling flue opening. Seen and referenced isthe complete cap assembly (3) with the hooked handle as referenced asnumber twelve (12).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is more particularly described in the followingexamples that are intended as illustrative only. Since numerousmodifications and variations there in will be apparent to those skilledin the art. Various embodiments of the invention are now described indetail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like partsthroughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughoutthe claim that follows. The meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the”, includesplural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also asused in the description herein and throughout the claim that follows,the meaning of “in”, includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Also, in the construction of the invention, allparts are attached by way of either welding and rivets and threaded nutsthat attach the frame parts.

The description shall be made as to the embodiments of the presentinvention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 1-9. Inaccordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadlydescribed herein, this invention, in one aspect relates to a combustionstove or furnace flue opening link assembly device. It includes a rigidmetal frame (25), of three solid metal rods (24), threaded at the endsand bent uniformly at a 90° angle, one and one half inch 1½ in from theends. This frame (25) then attached in a triangular pattern, parallel tothe two pipes contained within the link (2), (4), with angled endsinward connecting and attached to the outer pipe walls of the two pipeparts of the link, (2) and (4), when they are aligned end to end,leaving an open space in between. Thus the frame (25) permanentlylinking these two aligned pipe parts in a fashion that permits a slidingsleeve to slide back and forth over said two pipe parts, (2) and (4).

This sliding sleeve (1) is of slightly greater diameter than the twoprevious standard sized pipes (2) and (4) and is slid over back andforth on the 2 pipe parts of the link. Being part of an inner slidingseal, the sleeve slides easily left or right thus opening and revealingthe open space that exist between both pipe ends. Or when slid uptightly and closed, creates an inner four wall, two point of contactchamber seal that surrounds the pipe wall and seals the existing innerwall slit from the sliding sleeve. The framed sliding pipe link assemblyis intended for use in all regular standard flue pipe diameters. Thedevice is intended and most effective when installed at the exteriorouter wall or ceiling flue hole, which leads out of the structure intothe chimney outside, where it's cold. Thus the link provides, accessinside the flue, exactly at this key location within the structure,where an insulated, double wall chimney cap can be inserted directlyinto the cold exterior wall and block the cold out, and also being thekey location to clean out the chimney without dismantling anything andalso for internal inspection of the flue or conduit.

Referring to FIG. 1-9, the framed mounted slidable pipe link assemblydevice, FIG. 1, includes a sliding sleeve (1), made of standard fluepipe, but of a slightly larger diameter. The sleeve (1) also hasattached at its bottom end, a new shorter length pipe (9), of slightlysmaller diameter, and being of shorter length than the sleeve (1). When(9) is inserted into the bottom end of the sleeve (1) a metal spacer(22) is also inserted in a concentric manner, where the spacer is nowsituated in between the now parallel pipe walls and flush with the pipeends which are also flush. When, attached we have two walls on the lowerend of the sleeve (1). Then a second semi length pipe (9), being thesame length as the first, but of larger diameter, is fitted down andover pipe part (2) until the ends are flush, then again a concentricspacer (22) is attached in between the pipe walls flush with ends.Please refer to FIG. 6.

Like illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the device of preparing being theframe mounted slidable pipe link assembly understands: a cylindricalsleeve (1), made up of more than just an inner double wall (9) on itslower end but also contains other parts. Illustrated in FIG. 7 is theinner shield (5) this being a cylindrical and slightly cone shaped metaltube (5) that when slid down into the top of the sliding sleeve (1)until flush and attached around the top, it, this shield (5) protrudesdown within the sleeve (1) and by-passes the inner wall slit that ispresent within the sliding link wall, thus overlapping the wall slitinside and protecting the inner seal from any creosote leakage and thelikes. Being attached to the sliding sleeve (1), the shield (5) alsotravels left or right along with the sleeve.Also depicted in FIG. 7 is the reducing upper end part (23) pipe pieceof the sleeve (1), whereas when attached concentrically over the sleeve(1), it (23) serves to reduce down to the standard diameter to connectto the crimped top end pipe (4) of the link.

Depicted in FIG. 1 is one of two metal handles (26) of a flat surfacegrip style, attached. Also depicted are two metal flexible spring leaflocks (8), made of thin flat metal and bent at the top outwardhorizontally for an inch, then bent up vertical for one inch to form aflat pull grip, when firmly attached to the lower inner frame (25) andat a slope in which they abut slightly to the sleeve wall they can bemanipulated to snap into locking position or be pulled out to unlock theseal.

illustrated in FIG. 8 is a detailed part by part depiction of a doublewall, hooked handle, insulated, chimney flue cap (3). By utilizing aregular standard metal chimney flue cap (18) a hooked metal handle (12),is attached within the cap (18), at the center, then bending outward atthe center of the cap facing, a threaded bolt (21), is inserted throughthe center facing and leading directly through the unit and protrudingout the other end. Then an inner concentric metal cylinder (16) isfitted within the cap (18), being of smaller diameter than the standardcap (18), it is the new inner lining wall attached down in the cap (18)to the inner facing wall. Thus providing for the double wall nature ofthe cap (3) creating an inner core for insulation (15) to be inserted. Aflat concentric metal cover plate (14) is then fitted over the exposedinsulation present, at a center hole accepting the bolt ending andtightened by a lock nut (13). Note because of the double wall (16)feature of the cap (3), it connects to both, either, a regular crimpedmale flue pipe end or any standard sized opening.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain theprinciples of the invention and their practical application so as toenable others skilled embodiments and with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains without departing from its scope. Accordingly thescope of the present invention is defined by the intended claim ratherthan the forgoing description and the exemplary embodiments describedtherein.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claim.

I claim:
 1. A frame mounted slidable pipe link assembly, creating anopening and access inside of a chimney flue pipe for either visualinspection of the flue interior, or clean out access of the chimney,when installed at the chimney base location, inside an exterior wall ofa building, or also for access enabling the insertion of an insulatedflue cap (3) directly into the exterior wall hole at the base of thechimney, comprising: (a) a rigid frame (25), made of three metal rods(24), bent in from the ends, and attached to and linking two standarddiameter, pipe lengths (2), (4) in which the ends are facing one anotherand lined up end to end, leaving an open space or gap in between,furthermore a frame (25) mounted slidable pipe link assembly comprisinga sliding sleeve (1) slid over a flue pipe part (2) of standard size,this part (1) also having attached a double shorter wall (9) on itssleeve end (1) to be slid left or right opening or closing an open gapthat exist within the link assembly in between both pipe ends (2), (4),said link assembly device being of a pre-determined size, said linkdevice having pipe lengths of pre-determined lengths and diameters toconform and link to standard flue sizes, made to slide, revealing orcovering a chosen pre-determined size gap or entry way into a flue pipeor conduit, link assembly device performs perfectly when installed atany slope, horizontal, vertical or other; (b) a sliding sleeve (1) sealcontained within the link assembly comprising of an additional two twinstandard flue pipe lengths (9), being shorter in length than pipe (2)and having different diameters, such that one fits down and over astandard flue pipe (2) size and the other of smaller diameter fits upand inside of a sliding sleeve (1), leaving a space in between the nowparallel walls (9), this gap in between these walls is possible becauseof the insertion of a metal spacer (22) serving two functions, the firstbeing to enable the gap for the seal chamber, and also to serve as aconcentric abutment surface, within the seal, where the shorter pipelength walls (9) interlock and abut the surface of the spacer (22)inside of the seal chamber, when the seal is pulled tightly together,these new shorter length pipes (9) are attached, firstly, the one ofgreater diameter is slid down and over the lower pipe part (2) of thelink assembly, flush to the top end, becoming the first double wallsection of the seal, the other of smaller diameter is slid up and in tothe bottom end of a cylindrical metal sleeve (1) slid in flush to thebottom end, thus becoming the second half double wall section of thesliding sleeve seal, these two parts, when slid one into the other inthe manner in which these new shorter walls (9) interlock, using apredetermined distance measure, when pulled tightly together square tothe spacers, these two parts joined, form a four wall chamber with aninner two points of contact seal, where the shorter wall (9) ends abutsquarely against the spacers (22) and effectively create the four wallchamber seal, thus sealing the inner concentric slit that exist in theflue pipe of the link assembly caused by having a sliding sleeve (1),and this unique seal with this simultaneous interlocking feature, usingpredetermined lengths and distance is what allows the link to exist, thesize of the open gap desired will determine the length of the link,logically the bigger the gap the longer the seal; (c) a inner shield (5)a cylindrical slightly conical metal tube (5) attached concentrically tothe inner top end of the sleeve (1) when slid down inside the sleeve (1)flush to the top where the spacer (22) is located; (d) a short reducingdiameter pipe part (23) attached also to the top end of the sleeve (1)where the shield (5) is attached but attached to the outer top sleeve(1) wall, to serve to step down from the oversized sleeve (1) diameterdown to the standard diameter; (e) a two thin metal leaf type flexiblesnap in locks (8) attached to and within the lower frame area, slopedinward and slightly abutting the outer sleeve (1) wall or abuttingdirectly under the sleeve (1) wall overhang when seal is locked intoplace; (f) two flat thin metal handles (26) attached to outer sleeve (1)wall for grip.